Here it is outlined, briefly, the amazing value of VLAN-Virtual Local Area Network technology in the network evolution. The networks are complex and their architecture/structure changes for adapting to new and future needs. So VLAN is an important and essential network technology for LAN segmentation and configuration: it makes easier and improves the interactions among end systems attached to layer 2 switch device; just like the fire and the wheel were important for humankind in the far past. In depth this technology allows the setups of several logical groups/collection of hosts (up to 4094 VLANs, but some are reserved) that communicate among them as if they were attached to the same wire, regardless of their physical location; there is also an extension of VLAN, called VXLAN, for large environment like new IOT-Internet of thing contexts with the possibility to overcome the constraints of classic VLAN. Each group is a separate broadcast domain (where every host sends packets to all others in the group). Some fundamental benefits of VLAN are described here: these network segmentations are very useful because could be based on organizational needs of the company (financial area, engineering area and marketing area) or functional/application needs; VLAN can limit the number of hosts and so it reduces the interference and interaction between the broadcast domains, enhancing security; VLAN encompasses and reduces packet traffic: broadcast, unicast and multicast traffic in layer 2 devices; and improve the use of bandwidth; possible VLAN reconfiguration can be done through software/CLI-Command Line Configuration rather than by physically unplugging and moving devices or wires and this brings greater flexibility in the network administration; VLANs can be locally significant or be trunked over multiple layer 2 devices; VLAN can span anywhere in network, which happens due to trunk link connection; VLAN tagging, developed by Cisco, is the technique for identifying the frames that travel in trunk link with special tags. Thank you. Best regards. Francesca
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